Fiche (20)

A/N: Well here we go with the next chapter. I love hearing your thoughts, even if it's calling Edward an ass, lol. Thank you so much for everyone who reviews, reads, and recs. Um glad you enjoy my words and feel something. Thanks to my pre readers-Maplestyle, SassyNoles, Bitterharpy, Agoodwitch, and 2 brown eyes. Thanks as well to Mel C who makes my rambling easy to read and is awesome all around. Alright onto the story.

The next morning, I woke up to Rose's worried gaze. I groaned and stretched. "Rose, you're my sister and I love you, but it's still creepy when you watch me sleep." I joked, trying to lighten the mood.

"I just talked to Emmett. Apparently he and Edward got into it last night. There was actually a punch or two thrown."

I immediately sat up. "What the actual fuck? Are they both okay?" I made a move to get out of bed, but Rose put her hand on my shoulder to stop me.

"They're both fine, sissy. Emotions were running high last night, and Emmett was frustrated to see you so upset, so he mouthed off to Edward. They're okay. It's morning, can you tell me what's going on with you and Edward now?"

I shook my head and threaded my hair in my hands. "He blames me for his dad being in a coma, and he wouldn't even look at me last night. Then he came into the bathroom and told me he had to take over for his dad as the boss and asked where did that put us." I felt the tears coming again, and I was just so over crying. I angrily wiped them away. "I get he's upset, but so am I. Why do I have to be the only one trying? It hurts that less than 24 hours ago we were fine; we were happy. Now we're…just nothing."

"He blames you?" She hissed. I could see the anger and fire burning in her eyes. She was pissed. Rose and I protected and defended each other fiercely, so I knew I needed to tread carefully or she would be out for Edward's blood like a hungry shark.

"He's like the Edward I met months ago, not the Edward I know now, so I told him he was acting like he didn't care about anything. He shut down immediately, so he obviously got defensive and said 'so I should worry about you, not my dad who's lying in a coma' and that I was the one who put him there."

"That motherfucker. You saved his dad's life." She hissed, even more fired up now.

"I know, Ro. Yeah, maybe I could have tried harder to get him to let me in so I could give him some comfort, but God why do I have to be the only one who is supposed to act like an adult. No, Carlisle isn't my dad, but I care deeply for him and everyone in his family." I started crying harder, and Rose pulled me into a hug, letting me get it out. "I had to operate on him. I had to obsess and worry that I was making the wrong move or decision. He coded on the table and my heart almost stopped. I got him back immediately, but fuck it was so scary."

"It's okay, Bella. Carlisle will be okay. You did everything right. I think you need to give Edward some space. Let him come to you when he's ready."

"I think you're right. I need to talk to Esme. See how she's doing."

"Yeah, she popped in a bit ago, letting us know breakfast is ready, so let's go eat, okay?" She pushed my hair back behind my shoulder.

I nodded and pulled my hoodie on before I followed her downstairs. Emmett was already at the breakfast bar, nursing a cup of coffee. Dem was leaning against the counter waiting for his coffee to get done, and Alice was sitting at the table with Jasper, talking and eating quietly.

Rose sat next to Emmett, and after kissing her temple, he got up to get her some food. He squeezed my shoulder on the way past me. I smiled at him and headed over toward Demetri because I needed coffee. He pulled a mug from the cupboard for me, and when his cup was done brewing, he popped in a pod for me.

"Thanks, Dem. How are you doing?"

"Good. Getting stronger every day. Look, you almost can't tell that I got hurt," he said, lifting his shirt and showing me his "scar."

I had seen it a few days after he got sent home but hadn't since then. "Yeah, it looks really good."

When I sat back down at the breakfast bar, I noticed that Emmett had made me a plate too. I smiled at him and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Thanks, Em."

He shot me a dimpled grin and nudged Rose. She laughed and then realized that it didn't fit the somber atmosphere and covered her mouth. Alice's tinkling laugh was followed by Jasper's smooth chuckle. Before long, we were all smiling and giggling. Esme walked in with a sad smile but it turned happy after she gave each of us a hug.

She sat next to me, and after taking one look at me, she tsked. " A leanbh, let's talk. Come on." She took my hand and led me to the sitting room. "Bella, dear, why do you look so sad?"

My emotions were all over the place still, so I felt the anger and sadness come back full force. "It's Edward and me. I don't understand why he's shutting me out."

"Walk me through it, Bella. You guys have been doing so well; I'm not understanding what the issue is. Let's take a drive."

As I followed her out to her car, I started the whole story of what had happened between Edward and me, hoping that she would be able to lend me some knowledge.

RPOV

I was fuming. I could hear Esme and Bella talking, and hearing my sister in anguish gutted me. I hadn't always been the best sister, and when our parents got sick, I checked out and left her alone to deal with everything herself. That was something I would never forgive myself for, and that was my cross to bear. When I saw someone else hurting my sister, all bets were off.

"Em, where is Edward?"

"Rosie, I know what you're thinking, and believe me, I get it but now isn't the time."

"Bullshit. There is a hierarchy you have to follow because he's your boss, blah, blah, blah, but that's my sister. If I want to rip his dick off, that is my right and I don't have to follow his orders."

It took a while but Emmett got used to my temper, so little outburts like this no longer phased him. Emmett just sighed and shook his head. He leveled me with those clear blue eyes. "His dad is in a coma, Rosie."

"I'm well aware of that, but tell me something: if Carlisle were fine and awake, don't you think he'd be pissed Edward was acting like this. He blamed Bella for Carlisle being in a coma, damn near came to blows with Alice to not sit next to her in the car, and he hasn't talked to her since last night. Bella is so confused and she doesn't understand what she did wrong. Her, Emmett, not Edward. She is giving him an all access pass to treat her like crap because of what happened. He should be leaning on her, not pushing her away."

"I agree with everything you are saying, but Edward has never had someone else's feelings he's had to worry about. He had never learned to share his feelings with someone else, or show his vulnerability with someone."

"Maybe that's how you see him, but he is a different person with Bella. He has been all those things with her because she doesn't judge him on a damn bit of it. This is killing her. My sister hardly ever cries, and this morning she cried in my arms. You can't understand what that's like, to see the one person who has always been strong, just crumble."

Emmett sighed, grabbed my cell phone, pulled up my map application, typed in an address. "He's at home. He needed to go get some clothes and stuff."

"He's bringing all of Bella's stuff here, isn't he?" I asked. His silence was all the confirmation I needed. I scoffed and grabbed my purse, kissed him deeply, and then left to get in my car. Bella had left with Esme, so I knew she wouldn't know where I was until it was too late to stop me.

At this point, I really didn't know if I wanted to kick him in the nuts or talk him out of being an ass and ruining the best thing to happen to him. Some may call me biased, and maybe I was, but my sister was amazing. She was smart as hell, kind, beautiful, strong, and my best friend.

I made it to Edward's house, and I had to admit, it was pretty cool looking from the outside. I got why my sister liked living here so much, aside from the hot guy that resided in the house with her. I walked to the door, hoping he was still here. I knocked and tapped my foot, waiting for him to answer it. When he pulled the front door open, I was floored by what I saw in front of me. Edward was wearing a wrinkled shirt, his hair in a complete disarray; his eyes were red-rimmed, and he looked like he had been awake for days. He also looked completely confused.

"Rose, what are you doing here? Is everything okay?"

"No, it most assuredly is not," I said, pushing past him.

"Please, come in," he said sarcastically and closed the front door.

"So funny. Edward, what are you doing?" Best just to be just direct.

"I'm getting clothes because my mom is gonna need some support, and I'm gathering up Bella's stuff," he said, walking over to his couch that had clothes all over it. He was folding and sorting, putting them in different bags.

"So, you're just kicking her out?" I was surprised that Emmett was right.

He scoffed. "Pretty sure she's not going to want to stay here anymore."

"Are you going to break up with her?"

He sighed and stopped what he was doing to look at me. "Rose, why are you here?"

"Because you're making a huge mistake."

"I don't know what you're talking about," he said dismissively. He went back to what he was doing.

I grabbed his arm, stopping him from what he was doing. "Do I need to kick you in the nuts, or are you going to be an adult and talk to me? I swear to god, I don't know how she deals with your mantrums."

He looked shocked. His eyebrows were arched almost to his hairline. "My what?"

"Mantrums," I enunciated like I was talking to a five year old. "This dismissive bullshit, acting like you're so unbothered by all this. Well, let me give you the 411, Edward. My sister is losing it. She cried in my arms this morning about your dad's surgery and the fact that you won't even look at her. You are hurting her, the woman that you supposedly care about. You both need each other, and you're denying any relief for either of you."

"She's better off if I just sever ties now. I don't know what I was thinking, believing that I could actually be happy and keep her."

"What are you talking about?"

"You don't get it, Rose. I'm the boss, and Emmett is going to be my advisor—don't worry, he's going to be out of the line of fire. Did he tell you a war was coming?"

"Yeah, he said something like that."

"They will come for me because I don't know what the fuck I'm doing, and that means they will be gunning for Bella, just to get to me, and it'll work." He got a crazy frantic look in his eyes and gripped both my arms. "Nothing can happen to her, Rose. They can come for me, fine, but they can't hurt her."

I knew that Bella was gonna be mad at me, but I needed to get him to snap out of this. "Edward, she's in love with you," I said, almost crying, because I knew that Edward's current plan was going to devastate her. "She knew before this all started between you two what was going to happen, that someday you would take over for your dad, and she didn't care. She loves you, and I know you love her back. I see it in the way you look at her, talk to her, touch her. It's plain as day. Don't do this, you will destroy more than just two people if you do. You can't guard her by leaving her. Stay, protect her. She's part of the family; we're all targets now."

Edward sighed and looked like what I just said knocked the wind out of him. He fisted his hair with his hand, sitting down. I just hoped that I had finally gotten through to him.

BPOV

Esme and I ended up deciding to come see Carlisle when we started our drive. After I had told her what had gone on between Edward and me, she didn't have a whole lot to offer. It seemed she had been waiting for something like this to happen, for Carlisle to eventually get hurt and for Edward to shut down. I felt bad about dumping all of Edward's and my crap on her lap, but she said she welcomed any distraction instead of obsessively worrying about her husband. She did tell me confidently that Edward would come around, and all I could do was hope that she was right.

When we arrived, I got an update from Eric about how Carlisle was doing and he led Esme to see him. I told her that I was going to go across the street and get us drinks. I wanted to give her some alone time with her husband because she wasn't able to see him last night. I got some iced coffees and then headed back to the building.

Heading to Carlisle's room, I noticed the door was open a crack, but I stopped when I heard Esme's voice.

"You are the most stubborn man I have ever met, so I expect you to fight, Carlisle. Fight like hell to come back to me and your family, like you did when you won my heart. You're not allowed to leave me yet." A sob caught in her throat, and I ached to go comfort her, but it was a private moment I was not supposed to be hearing. I sat waiting for her to come out. When she did, she told me that she was going to go get us some food down the street. She gave me a hug, and I squeezed her back.

I slid inside the room and sat down in the hard chair next to the hospital bed, grabbing Carlisle's warm hand. I remembered the scary moment during his surgery when his heart stopped. I felt the tears slide down my face. "They say that when someone is in a coma, they can still hear you. Brain activity suggests that maybe on some level it's true. I really hope you can hear me." I sighed and blew out a large breath. "Esme says that Edward is lost and someone needs to help him find his way. I know that if you were awake, you'd beat some sense into him. I don't know what to do. Esme told me when I first met you all that you and Edward were both very stubborn. I have seen the proof to back up that statement, but I also know a side of Edward he doesn't show often, and he is capable of compromise. I just don't think he's gonna budge now."

I laid my head down to rest on our joined hands. I turned my head to look at Carlisle's still face. I had seen him serious, calm, animated, laughing, angry, but never completely still and emotionless. It was kind of disconcerting. I looked up at his monitors, making sure that everything looked good. I reached over and brushed away a lock of hair that was probably tickling his face.

I continued to talk to Carlisle, feeling a peace that was hard to find talking to someone who might respond. One of the monitors started beeping, and I looked at it to see that I had knocked his pulse oximeter almost all the way off his finger, so it was reading that his oxygen and pulse were really low. I righted the instrument and then I reset the monitor, so it would stop alarming. I studied his monitors again, and I wasn't concerned with any of the numbers or readings they were displaying.

"You never stop working, do you?"

I froze at the sound of that voice because I couldn't dare to hope then turn around and have it all torn to shreds, but that was Edward. That wasn't in dispute, but what had completely floored me was he sounded like he had yesterday at lunch, not like he had last night. I knew he had stepped up behind me because I could feel his body heat and smell him; his shower gel and shampoo mixed to make a scent that was unique and Edward. His arms wrapped around me from behind, pulling me into his warmth. We both breathed a sigh of relief. "I'm so sorry, mo grá. I freaked out and threw a mantrum."

I giggled and turned in his arms. "A 'mantrum'?"

"Yeah, Rose told me that's what I was doing." He looked like he wanted to deny it, but couldn't.

"You talked to Rose?" This was a surprise to me.

He nodded and chuckled. "Yeah, I thought she was the calm one but she's just as feisty as you."

"She's actually feistier than me. She obviously went easy on you."

Edward smiled and shook his head. "Remind me never to get on her bad side."

"Yeah, just point her at the Italians. She'll castrate them all." I was completely serious.

We both chuckled, but soon Edward was cradling my face, looking deep in my eyes. "Please, tell me you forgive me."

"As long as you forgive me. Emotions were running high last night, Edward. I shouldn't have pushed you. I hated that you were pulling away from me, but I tried to make it about us instead of your dad."

"Regardless of what happened earlier, that didn't give me the right to treat you the way I did. I said things to you that I didn't even mean." He kissed me softly. "Thank you for saving my dad's life, Bella. When Rose ripped me a new one, she told me what happened during the surgery that made you so upset. I should have been there for you and I wasn't. I'm sorry."

"Please, just don't shut me out anymore. I know I needed you, but you needed someone too," I said, pulling him in to embrace me.

"I did, I will always need you. I love you, Bella."

I pulled away from the hug and looked at him in shock. The smile on his face was beautiful. I gave him an identical grin. "I love you too, Edward."

A/N: How do we feel? Seems like Rose wisened Edward up and didn't let him be a dumbass, was anyone expecting her to call him out? I love Rose and wanted to give her a voice so there you are. Let me know what you thought and they finally said the l word! See you all next week.